Plastic

Alternatives to Typical Toxic Vinyl Shower Curtains

by

showercurtainlinereva

There’s a reason why your new shower curtain smells so strongly. The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) both have found significant off-gassing from common PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) shower curtains. They found phthalates, toluene (a carcinogen), ethylbenzene, phenol, methyl isobutyl ketone, and xylene in shower curtains bought at five major chain stores. There were up to 108 VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) leached into the air from one curtain that remained airborne for almost one month. The inhalation of these toxins can cause anything from headaches and nausea to liver, central nervous system, respiratory and reproductive problems.

Shower curtains frequently contain the obesogen tributylin. An obesogen is a chemical that disrupt our bodies’ hormones and our natural ability to maintain a healthy body weight. They can alter metabolism, promote the storage of calories as fat, increase the number of fat cells in the body, and alter gut flora.[1]

 
Alternatives to Regular Vinyl
If buying a plastic curtain, look for a PVC-free, PEVA or EVA identification. PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) and EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) are plastics still made from petrochemicals (petroleum and natural gas), but they contain fewer VOC’s than regular vinyl. PEVA/EVA do contain chemicals, but are chlorine-free so have been shown to considerably reduce harmful off-gassing. They can be purchased at GreenerCountry.com.

There are also alternatives to plastic, listed below. It may be a few shillings more but worth it for protecting your health. Also, “anti-microbial/antibacterial/anti-mildew” mean more chemicals. There really is no need for these additives if you clean their shower curtains now and again.

Look for:

Excerpted from http://www.greenhome.com/

[1] http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-surprising-household-items-that-cause-obesity.html#ixzz3cUrCuDlq

My Favorite Things at this Year’s Greenfestival

by

The best part of the 2015 Greenfestival at the Javits Center in NYC was witnessing the Cafeteria Culture (formerly the “Styrofoam Out of Schools” campaign) win $5,000 towards the continuation of their efforts in schools. They successfully fought for the banning of styrofoam in NYC schools, and I’d love to see the same thing happen here on LI. Their styrofoam monster, made from the plates from just ONE lunchtime, must have made an impression on some decision-makers. See http://www.cafeteriaculture.org/foam-trays-out-of-schools.html

My 3 Favorite Products

  • Anti-human trafficking t-shirts: Sustainable items made by women who either escaped from having been sold into the sex trade or who are at risk and in need of financial opportunity. Started by a woman who was studying in Cambodia and saw how sad one family was to decide to sell their child as a desperate means of making money. T-shirts are made from organic cotton, and bags made from upcycled rice bags. See http://www.nominetwork.org/ or http://www.buyherbagnotherbody.com/.

nomi shirt

  • Socks for a Cause: Conscious Steps is an international company run by 3 young men that sell 4 styles of ethically made men’s organic socks, each one dedicated to a certain nonprofit organization. One is for a group providing HIV therapy for pregnant women in Africa, one is for food packs for children, another is for schoolbooks for children in Asia, and a fourth is for tree planting in Kenya. See http://consciousstep.com/

IMG_0058

  • Toys and kids tableware made from recycled plastic: This one is a no-brainer. While I prefer all plastic be a thing of the past, if children are going to play with/use plastic at all, it should at least be recycled. This brand uses the plastic from used milk containers which does not contain BPA. See http://re-play.com/

IMG_0064

4 Honorable Mentions:

  • The GrowOya—a terracotta jug that you plant in your garden and fill with water once a week—it naturally seeps water directly into the soil so less water is wasted by evaporation. Ancient technology made new again. See http://growoya.com/

IMG_0048

  • The Swedish cellulose dishcloth/sponge comes with fun prints and replaces 17 rolls of paper towels because it can be dried and reused. http://threebluebirds.com/

hand towel

  • Affirmats: Yoga mat made of natural rubber and jute (a plant fiber) so is totally biodegradable. See http://www.affirmats.com/

IMG_0056

And last but not least, my perennial favorite… the green burial casket and seashell made of ashes. This is the way I want to go. http://agreenerfuneral.org/

IMG_0053

Skip the Disposable Plastic Produce Baggies!

by

 

 

 

 

 

Grocery stores provide thin film plastic bags as a convenience for transporting fresh vegetables from store to home. These bags are usually made from LPDE (Low Density Polyethylene) plastic #4, and like large grocery bags, end up in landfills or get incinerated. Like many of us, though I’ve been pretty good about remembering to bring reusable shopping bags (even if they sometimes get forgotten in the car), I had never even thought about a reusable alternative to produce bags. So when I received this one from Environmental Working Group (EWG.org), made by Chico Bag, it was really encouraging. Though it seems to be made from virgin (nonrecycled) nylon, Chico Bag offers to recycle it for you. It’s mesh on one side and lightweight, and I’m hoping it becomes the next big trend! See these links for others like it too!

Chicobag.com

washableproducebags.com

reusablebags.com